Vacuum system of control for dirigible bodies



Aug. 5, 1930. H. G DORSEY ET AL 1,

VACUUM SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR DIRIGI BLE BODIES I Filed Sept. 8,. 1920 3 Sheet s-Sheet 1 1;: gym/WNW?- HIS nrromvr Aug. 5, 1930. H. G. DORSEY ET AL 1,

VACUUM SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR DIRIGIBLE BODIES Fild Sepc. 8, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug. 5, 1930. DQRSEY ET AL 1,772,343

VACUUM SYSTEM OF CONTROL FOR DIRIGIBLE BODIES .'.led Sept. 8. 1920 EN @NN MN nww s5 m3 HE Wm ms Q EN QMN f Rmw AW Limb R MN i wwfl km E W -l- 9 mm m3 e .i .W x ms o Q QQN mm E m 7 Q an g N$N ms A TTORNEY' Patented 5, 1930;

"UNITED, STATES PATENT -oFF1cu HERBERT GnovE' DORSEY, F GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND ALB RT n. TRENOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'ASSIG1\TORS To JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR, 0E GLOUCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS I VACUUM SYSTEM CONTROL FOR DIRIGIBLE BODIES Application f lled September a, 1920. Serial No. 409,031.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide a vacuum system for controlling a dirigible body from a distance 1n response to radiant energy or other impulses;

to provide means for steering a dirigible body by a vacuum system arranged to operate automatically or to'be operated at will from a distance; to provide a vacuum system ofcon- 'trol for dirigible bodies which is actuatedby automatic operating means and means responsive to impulsesof radiant energy, combined with a selecting mechanism whereby one or the other of the actuating means is rendered efliective for control purposes; and to provide other improvements as W11]. hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1

represents diagrammatically one form of the present invention in vacuum system of control; Fig. 2-represents a side elevatlon of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig.

3 is a side elevation of another part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents at of Fig.4.

a top plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents a section on line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 represents a section on l1ne Referring to the 'drawings, one embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a steering mechanism 10'; apparatus for producing a vacuum 11; a stabilizing device 12 which normally controls the steering mechanism 10; a selector mechanism 13 which connects or disconnects the stabilizing device 12 from the steering means 10 and also operates directly upon the steering means 10; and an energy receiving system 14. The details of the energy receiving system are not shown in the drawings but-maybe of any desired construction, for instance of well known con- ,struction adapted to receive radiant energy andoperate suitable control devices, such as f a relay 15.

.F or the purpose of controlling the direction of movement of the dirigible body, the

I steering mechanism 10 comprises a: rudder 20 arranged to oscillate about a substantially vertical axis 21 fixed with respect to the moving body. Rigidly secured to the rudder-20 are twoarms 23 and 24, the former beingcon-- nected by a cable 25 to one side of a bellows device 26,"which comprises a base 27 and a .trifugal blower or other suitable means 35 is provided which maintains asuitable vacuum in'the receiver 34 and is driven by any suitable means. The upper side of the bellows 26 is connected by pipe 37 to pipe 33. The upper sideof the bellows 26 is separated from the lower side of the bellows so that there is no internal communication between these two sides, and the twosides of the bellows thus constitute in substance two pneumatic devices.

For. automatically controlling the steering of the body, the stabilizing means 12 is provided comprising agy'roscope, or other suitable direction maintaining device 40 including a rotor 40 mounted in gimbal rings 41 and 42 to rotate about a normally horizon- .tal axis. The outer gimbal ring 42 is supported at its top by a shaft 43 which has a bearing in a frame 44, and the lower part of the gimbal ring 42 is Supported on a shaft 46 which has a bearing in a frame 47. Loose-' ly mounted upon the shaft 46 is'a member 50 provided with suitable openings 51 and 52 which are connected respectively to flexible tubes 53 and 54. Rigidly secured to the shaft 46 is a semi-circular member 56 which slides over the member 50 without actually touching it. When the arm 50 and the gyroscope 40 are in central position the ends of" the circular member 56 just cover -the ports 51 and .52. One side of the member 50 is connected bya cable 60 to the arm 23 and the other side of the'member50 is connected by a cable 61 to the arm 24. The gimbal ring 41 is provided with a rod like extension 64 rigid therewith which col-operates with a cone shaped member 65, this member being carried onone side 66 of a bellows 67. The other side 68 of the bellows 67 is supported by an arm 69 extending from the frame 47. The bellows 67 is provided with compressional springs 7 2 which tend to holdit in open position. The bellows 67 is connected by a-pipe 75 to the receiver 34 of the vacuum producing devicetll, and the cone is so constructed that when the bellows 67 is in its open position the gyroscope 40 will be centralized by means of the rod 64. l

In order to selectively control the system, the selector device 13 comprises two circular disks 80 and 81 supported on a shatt 83, the disk 81 being rigidly secured to the shaft 83,

while the disk 80 is rotatably mounted thereon but is held from rotation with respect to the frame 85 by means of a pin 86 which is rigidly secured to the frame 85 and enters a hole 87 in' the disk 80, thereby preventing it from being rotated. The disk 80 is provided with seven openings 87 91, 92,93, 94, 95, and 96. The opening 92 is connected by a pipe 100 to the bellows 67. The openings 93 and 95 are respectively connected to the pipes 53 and ,54. The opening 94 is connected by a pipe 101 to the lower side of the bellows 26 and the opening 96 is connected by a pipe 102 to the upper side of the bellows 26. The disk 81 is provided with six internal radial grooves 105', 106, 107, 108, 109 and 110 disposed at 60 intervals and three external radial grooves 113, 114 and 115 disposed at intervals as shown in Fig. 5. To the shaft 83 is rigidly secured a toothed ratchet 120 which co-operates with a pawl 121 held in engagement therewith by means of a spring 122. The pawl 121 is pivotally connected to membar 123 which at one end has a projecting rod 124 provided with a thread upon which a nut 125 moves, and member 123 is held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of spring 127 and is prevented from rotating by the member 128. A cap screw 130 is threaded into the projection 131 of the frame 85, its lower end engaging the pawl 121 when the member 123 is in its outermost position as shown in Fig. 3, thus holding the pawl 121 rigidly against the ratchet 120 and prevent ing the ratchet from over-running its position. A locking nut 132 is provided to hold the cap screw 130 in any desired position. A. click-pawl 135 is pivoted at 136 to the frame 85 and is held in engagement with the ratchet 120 by means of a spring 137. This prevents the ratchet 120 from moving backwards. The right hand end of the member 123, as viewed in Fig. 3 is formed into a sleeve 140 into which is screwed a plunger 141 of a solenoid 142'. Upon the threaded portion of the plunger 141 is provided a stop nut 143 and a locking nut 144 to limit the stroke of the plunger 141. The solenoid 142 is composed of an outer casing of magnet iron 145 with end pieces of like material 146 and 147. The plunger 141 reciprocates in a brass tube 149, in the right hand end of which is positioned a stationary core of magnet iron 150. The

winding for the solenoid is shown at 151. One side of this winding is connected by a conductor to a contact point 156 which at times engages with an armature 157 of the 'elect romagnet 15. This armature is held in open position by means of a spring 158 and is connected by a conductor 159 to one side of a battery 160, the other side of this battery is connected by a conductor 161 to the other side of the winding 151 of the solenoid 142. The

electromagnet 15 is connected by two conduc- 7 V bellows 67 is deflated, as shown in Fig. 1, as

the air is withdrawn from it by means'ot pipe 75 leading to the vacuum producing means 11. If the dirigible body upon which it is mounted deviates to the right from the predetermined course as set by the gyroscope 40, the gimbal ring 42 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the dirigible body, as seen in Fig. 1, and the semicircular member 56 will uncover the port 52, thus allowing air to enter through port 52 into pipe 54 where it proceeds to the opening 95 in the disk 80, thence through groove 106 to opening 96, thence through pipe 102 to the upper side of the bellows 26, thus breaking the vacuum on this side of the bellows. The rocking member 28 is therefore rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 for'the vacuum is therefore only operating in the lower part which collapses under atmospheric pressure. The rudder is therefore rotated in a clockwise manner, or to the left, by means of cables 25 and 31. This causes the movable body to be steered to the left. The cables 60 and 61 cause the member 50 to rotate in a counterclock-wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, until the port 52 is again closed by the semicircular member 56. The rudder will therefore be turned through an angle which is proportional to the angle through which the movable body has been deviated from its predetermined course. The rudder being to the left the movable body is therefore returned to the course set by the gyroscope 40 and the rudder is at all times in position proportionate to the amount the movable body is ofif its redetermined course. Should the movable ody deviate to the left a similar action will take place, air entering the port 51, passing through the pipe 53, groove 109, pipe 101 to the lower side of the bellows 26 thus turning the rudder 20 to the right to return the movable body to its predetermined course.

If it is now desired to steer the movable body to the right an impulse of radiant enerinoperative.

gy is sent which being received by the antenna 166 operates the'energy receiving mechanisms 14, thereby energizing the electromagnet. which closes the circuit of solenoid 142. As soon as the solenoid 142 is energized,

the plunger 141 is'moved to the right asviewed in Fig. 4' thus moving the member 123 to the right carrying the pawl 121' with it which moves over the ratchet 120 without turning it. The spring 127 is thereby compressed. As soon as an impulse of radiant energy ceases and the magnet 15 is de-energized the circuit through the solenoid 142 will be broken thus allowing the plunger 141 and the member 123 to be moved to the left (as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4) under the action of the spring 127. The'pawl I21being in engagement with the ratchet 120 rotates this ratchet and with it the shaft 83 through one-twelfth of a revolution'until the pawl 121 is stopped by the capscrew 130. The ratchet 120 will be held in this position by means of the click pawl 135. The disk 81 being secured to shaft 83 will be rotated through one-twelfth of a revolution thereby moving the groove 110 into alinement with the ports 91 and 92, and blanking off ports 93,95 and 96 the first two of which are connected to the stabilizing means 12, thus rendering the same Groove 115 also moves into operative relation to port 94. This allows air to enter through the port 91, groove 110, port 92, pipe 100 to the bellows 67, thus breaking the Vacuum in this bellows WhlCh 1s expanded under the action of the springs 72.

Thecone 65 will therefore be moved to the left as seen in Fig. 2, and will therefore engage with the rod 64, thus centralizing the yroscope 40 and holding it central as long is the disk 81 is in this positlon. The gyroscope is therefore inoperative to control the 7 dirigible body because the pipes 53 and 54 are no longer in communication with the pipes 101 and 102. Air is also admitted through groove 115 to port 94 thence through the pipe 101 to th lower side of the bellows 26 thus breaking t e vacuum in this side and. allowing the rocking member 28 to rotate in a counter clock-wise direction as seen in Fi 1 thus turning the rudder20 to the right to steer the dirigible body to the right. The

movable body will continue to move to the right underthe action of the rudder 20 as long as the disk 81 is in thisposition.

If it is now desired to cause the movable body to again be put under control of the stabilizing means 12, another impulse of radiant energy is sent, which beingreceived by the antenna 166 energizes-the solenoid 142 thus turning the shaft 83, and therefore the disk 81, through one-twelfth of a revolution as previously described. This brings the groove 108 into alignment with the ports 93 and Y94 and the groove 105 into alinement with the ports 95 and 96. The port 92 is blanked off and therefore the bellows 67 is deflated under the action of the vacuum producing means 11. This causes the cone 65 to be moved to the right and out of engagement with the rod 64, thus allowing the gyroscope 40 to be free in space again. The pipes 53 and 54 will therefore be again connected to. the respective pipes 101 and 102, thus allowing the stabilizing means 12 to control the rudder 20 as already fully described.

If it is desired to steer the movable body to the left another impulse of radiant energy is sent which turns the. disk 81 through an additional one-twelfth of a revolution. This allows air to enter pipe 100 thus centralizing the gyroscope 40, the pipes 53 and 54 are disconnected and air isallowed to enter the pipe 102'through groove 113, which breaks the vacuuin in the upper part of bellows 26,thus

turning the rudder 20t o the left to cause the dirigible body to be steered in that direction. Thus by sending a suitable number of im-' pulses the dirigible body may be steered either to the right or the left as desired, or

ing 'a vacuum system controlled by said re- 1 c'eiving device for operating said steering means, means for controlling said vacuum system independently of said receiving .dc-' vice and means controlled by said vacuum sy tem for rendering said-independent means lnoperative. p 2. In a control 5 stem for dirigible bodies,

thejcombina'tion o a-movable bodv. steering "means therefore, a vacuum operated mechanlsm for operating said steering means, a

stabilizing device, a receiving device responsive to impulses of radiant energy, a selector for automatically connecting either of said.

devices with said vacuum operated mechanism and for automatically restoring said stabilizing device to a predetermined position. l

. 3. In a control system for dirigible bodies,

the. combination of a movable body, steering means therefor, a vacuum operated mech- Y amsm for o crating said steering means, a stabilizing evice arranged to control said vacuum mechanism to maintain said body upon a predetermined course, and means operated by radiant energy for restoring said stabilizing devicev to a predetermined position and lacing said vacuum' system .under control or operation from a distance.

4. In a control s stem for dirigible bodies, the combination 0 a movable body, .steering means therefor, a vacuum-operated mechanism for operating said steering means, automatic means for actuating said vacuum oper-- ated mechanism, ineans controlled by radiant energy for .selectively actuating said vacuum mechanism, and means controlled by said vacuum operated mechanism for render ing said automatic means inoperative.

5. In a control system for dirigible bodies, the combination of a movable body, steerin means therefor, a vacuum operated mechanism for operating said steering means, automatic means.for actuating said vacuum operated mechanism, means responsive to radiant energy .and including a selective valve for actuating said vacuum mechanism in, a predetermined manner, including means for restoring such automatic means to a predetermined position.

6. The combination with a dirigible body, of an element carried thereby and movable with respect thereto to automatically rotate said body about a given axis and means for moving said element with respect to said body including a pneumatic device, means normally acting to evacuate said device, and means responsive .to-radiant energy for selectively admitting a fluid under pressure to said pneumatic device to cause said device to actuate said element, and including ,means for disabling said automatic rotating means.

7. The combination with a dirigible body,

of means carried therebyfor steering said body either in one direction or a different direction, a vacuum system arranged to control said steering means, a stabilizin means normally acting through said vacu m system to stabilize said steering means, a vacuum system arranged to render said stabilizing means either effective or non-effective to control said steering means and to restore said stabilizing means to predetermined position and an element movable to control both ofsaid vacuum systems.

mesa

um system arranged to render said stabilizing means either efiective or non-efiective to control said steering means and to restore said stabilizing means to predetermined position, and an element rotatable step by step through a plurality of steps in one direction to control both of said vacuum systems.

10. The combination with a dirigible body, of means carried thereby for steerin said body either in one direction or a di erent direction, a vacuum system arranged to control saidgsteering means, stabilizing means normally acting through said vacuum system to stabilize said steering means, a vacuum system arranged to render said stabilizing means either effective or non-effective to control said steering means and to restore said stabilizing means to predetermined position and means for selectively controlling both of said vacuum systems including a member provided with a plurality of ports and a second member relatively mdvable with res ect to said first mentioned member and provided with a plurality of recesses arrangedv to cooperate with said ports.

HERBERT GROVE DORSEY. ALBERT D. TRENOR.

8. The combination with a dirigible body, of means carried thereby for steering said body either in one direction or a different direction, a vacuum system arranged to control said "steering means, stabilizing means normally acting through said vacuum system to stabilizesaid steering means, a vacuum system arranged to render said stabilizing means either eifective or non-effectiveto control said steering means and to restore said stabilizing means to prede,-.

I, termined position and an element movable step by step through a plurality of steps in one direction to control both of said vacuum systems. e

;trol said steering means, stabilizing means normally-acting through said vacuum system;to stabilize said steering means, a vacu- 

